Dhoopa means an offering of incense, and is a fitting title for this book of sensual romantic poems, written in Odia, the language of Odisha State, on the east coast of India. The poems represent the outpourings of a young man’s soul on fire, following an ever so brief crossing of paths, replete with wonder, longing, trysts, intimacy, ecstasy, separation, pain, questions, and finally acceptance, memories. The book of poems was published in 1931, while the author was still a student. The poems ushered in a new era in Odia poetry. Mayadhar Mansinha continued on to be a prolific poet and writer, but he is fondly remembered as a romantic poet, and the poems in Dhoopa are considered his best.

Dhoopa (Oriya Edition)

Literature & Fiction

Mansinha, Mayadhar

Poetry

Black Eagle Books

In centuries past sadhabas, seafaring merchants from Odisha ranged over south and south-east Asia. When the winds were right, laden ships sailed the Indian Ocean onto Siam, Bali, Java, Sumatra and other countries, and returned with goods from those countries. Lores about sadhabas loom large in Odisha culture, and several festivals celebrate the stories of the sadhabas. Mayadhar Mansinha presents Sadhaba Jhia as a kavya, a story with interwoven poems, about the tragic romance of a daughter (jhia) of a sadhaba family who locks glances with an unknown handsome sadhaba young man, just as his ship was leaving port. That momentary glance was sufficient for the two young strangers to feel united in destiny. Each started on a long tortuous search for the other, tragically finding each other united only after death.

Sadhaba Jhia (Oriya Edition)

Kabi O Kabita (Oriya Edition)

History & Criticism

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Books by Mansinha, Mayadhar